Father Thomas Williams talks on TV about how to live a moral life and figuring out right from wrong in a modern world. (CBS)

(Newser)
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A well-known priest who has authored several books and appeared on TV programs to discuss morality, God, and Catholic teachings has revealed he fathered a child. The revelation by Father Thomas Williams, who's a dean of papal morality at a university in Rome, is a new blow to his controversial religious order, which is under investigation by the Vatican for suspected sex abuse of minors by at least seven priests. "I am truly sorry to everyone who is hurt by this revelation," said Williams in a statement. He plans to take a year's leave "to reflect on my commitments as a priest."

He said the affair with the mother of his child occurred "several" years ago, but offered no other details. Williams is a member of the Legionaries of Christ. The order was founded in 1941 by a Mexican priest Marcial Maciel, who was later accused of widespread sex abuse of teens, drug abuse, and of fathering multiple children with several women, reports ABC News. In 2006 Pope Benedict banned Maciel from active ministry, and ordered him to spend his retirement in "prayer and penitence," notes Reuters. The order's 800 priests and 2,600 seminarians run Catholic schools and charities in 22 countries.

SEX DRUGS AND ROCK AND ROLL! AT LEAST IT WAS NOT A KID OR ANOTHER GUY!

Antagonist

May 16, 2012 4:14 PM CDT

He got tired of molesting and sodomizing little boys and decided to give women a try. What I don't understand is how the Catholics can be so against Homosexuality and at the same time be the ones who make up the largest group(Mainly Priests) that are fucking little boys in the ass !!! Pretty hypocritical in my view. But then I view all organized religion as a crutch for the weak minded.

Twiny

May 16, 2012 12:20 PM CDT

Wow! How refreshing! A priest that fucks adults instead of kids! He fathered a child, lied about it for years and yet, he still has his job. He's a dean of papal morality, which could explain the lack of said morality in the hierarchy of the church. You Catholics out there are idiots. Your cult can't follow it's own rules and you still just sit there and keep giving them money. What a sweet racket these 'Holy Men' have created for themselves.